Shock-absorber.



R. MARTIN.

SHOCK ABSORBER. APPLICATLON FILED APR. 24. 1916.

Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

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RICHARD MARTIN, OFALAMEDA, GALIFQRNIA.

SHOCK-ABSORBER.

Application filed April 24,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD MARTIN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock-, Absorbers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of devices for dampening the action of a vehicle spring, and belongs to that type which interposes resistance to the movement of the spring in one direction only.

The object of the invention is to provide a shock-absorber of the'described type which is simple and cheap to construct, and whose moving parts are notsubject to excessive wear. For this reason, I employ a ported piston, working within a fluid containing cylinder, the desired degree of resistance to the movement of the piston being obtained by regulating the area of the port through which the fluid must pass.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation showing my shock-absorber as applied to a vehicle, part of the cylinder being broken away. Fig. 2' is a longitudinal section through the center of my shock-absorber. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken in the direction of the arrows on the line 373 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a trans verse section taken in the direction of the arrows on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken in the direction of the arrows on the line 5-5 of F ig, 2.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a barrel or cylinder, having a closed end 2 from which projects a pair of lugs 3. A bolt 1, passing through holes in said lugs, pivotally connects the cylinder 1 p to a bracket 5, which is preferably'interposed between the axle 6 and thespring 7 whose'movement is to be retarded.

Within the cylinderl is a slidable piston 8 having a wrist pin 9 by which it is con nected with a pair of parallel connecting rods 10. The other ends ofsaid connecting rods are pivotally connected to a lever 11, extending from and fixed to a transverse shaft 12 rotatably mounted in a lateral ex tension 13 in the upper wall of the cylinder 1. A pin 14;, extending through said shaft 12 and said lever 11, as shown in Fig. 2, is the preferable meansof holding said two Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, rear.

1916. Serial No. 93,137.

parts in fixedrelation. A screw 15, the head of which engages the lower end of the pin 14, retains said pin in position. The piston 8 is cut away at 8 to allow clearance for the lever 11 at the extreme limit of its travel.

A pair of spaced arms 16, joined together at 17, as seen in Fig. 5, are fixed. one to each end (if the transverse shaft 12 preferably by means of screws 18. The upper ends of said arms 16 are pivotally connected, by means of a bolt or pin 19, to a bracket 20'carried by the frame or body 21 of the vehicle. Thus it will be seen that any rela-"e' i The head of the piston 8 is ported, as 1 shown at 22 in Fig. 2, the area of the port being controlleddby a valve 23. Said valve is retained in operative relation to the piston head by means of hookedlugs or pins,

24, preferably three in number, extending loosely through saio. port 22 and engaging the inside of the piston head. It will be seen that on the suction stroke of the piston 8, that is away from the closed cylinder head 2, the valve 23 opens to the limit of its play, thereby permitting a relatively large openlng between said valve and the piston head, but that on the compression stroke of said piston, said valve tends to close the port 22. To prevent an absolute closure of said port, and to regulate the degree of closing of said valve, an adjusting screw 25 is provided, its end projecting through the piston head, and bearing against said valve 7 to hold the same off its seat. Said screw 25 is provided with a square or polygonal head 26, against one side of which bears a flat spring 27, to prevent accidental movement of said screw,

The cylinder 1 is filled with fluid 28, as" seen in Fig. 1, preferably oil, to approxi.

mately the level of the transverse shaft 12, the free end of the cylinder being closed by means of a removable headv29. Under normal conditions the oil level is below said shaft 12, and therefore nolea-kage occurs at that point. As a further precaution, however, circumferential packing 30, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided for said shaftwithin its hearings in the cylinder extension 13.

The fluid thus confined within the cylinder is when the vehicle body 21 moves upwardly,

the valve 23 closes to the extent permitted by the adjusting screw 25, thereby greatly restricting the passage of the fluid through the port 22, and thus ofiering the desired degree of resistance to the piston 8.

The form of the device herein illustrated and described, and the manner of its mounting upon the vehicle, is that which is considered preferable. I do notwish to restrict myself in this regard, however, as it is to be understood that the device may be mounted in any convenient manner upon a vehicle, or that it may be put to other uses, and employed wherever an apparatus of this class is necessary, without in any way aflectingthe essential features of the invention. I claim 1. A shock-absorber for vehicles, comprising a fluid-containing cylinder adapted for connection with the vehicle axle; an arm having one end pivotally connectedwith said cylinder and the other end adapted for connection with the vehicle body; a ported piston within said cylinder; a connection between said piston and said arm; a valve associated with said piston for controlling the area of saidport, and means for holding said valve ofi its seat.

2. A shock-absorber for vehicles, comprising-a fluid-containing cylinder adapted for connection with the vehicle axle; an arm having one end pivotally connected With said cylinder and the other end adapted for connection with the vehicle body; a ported piston within said cylinder; a connection between said piston and said arm; a valve associated with said piston for partially closing said port during the piston in one direction only, and an adjustable'stop for holding said valve 01f its seat.

8; A device for the described purpose,-

travel of said comprising a fluid-containing cylinder; a llneally movable ported piston within said cylinder; a movable exterior arm havinga connection with -said piston; a valve associated with said piston for partially closing the port therein; and means for holding said valve ofi its seat during the travel of said piston in one directiononly.

L. A device for the described purpose, comprising a fluid-containing cylinder; a

ported piston within saidcylinder; a mo\(- port therein during the travel of said piston in one direction only; an adjustable stop for holding said valve off its seat; and

means for locking said adjustable stop in I I so In testimony whereof I have signed my position.

name to this specification in the presence of two subscrlbmg witnesses.

RICHARD MARTIN.

Witnesses:

7M. F. BOOTH, D. B. RICHARDS. 

